The following are the characteristics and qualities that
successful entrepreneurs share. Some of characteristics
described below overlap and feed each other, but we have
broken them down to general categories so that you can
determine if you have what it takes to be a successful
entrepreneur.
"There
is nothing like a dream to create the future. Utopia
today, flesh and blood tomorrow". ~ Victor Hugo
1.
Creative Visionaries
Entrepreneurs are future-oriented and forward-thinking.
They can envision a future where something that previously
didn't exist does. They are always coming up with new
ideas. They see opportunities everywhere. They are optimistic
and dynamic people who see what is possible, and who
are not restricted by the status quo or false limitations.
"Imagination
is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you
desire, you will what you imagine and at last you
create what you will." ~ George Bernard Shaw
2.
Personal Initiative
Entrepreneurs are doers, not just dreamers. They are
action-oriented. They are independent. They are deeply
aware of reality and what is possible. They don't expect
the world to change to accommodate them; they create
a new world. Through their own initiative, their own
will, and their own hard work they make things happen.
They are the kind of people who say, "Just do it."
"There
is only one admirable form of the imagination: the
imagination that is so intense that it creates a new
reality, that it makes things happen." ~ Sean
O'Faolain
3.
Perseverance
Entrepreneurs have a single-minded determination to
succeed. They are motivated by accomplishment, and don't
recognize failure as failure, but as a stepping stone
to success. They are grounded and do not pursue fruitless
endeavors; they know what is possible if they do not
give up. They continue driving towards their goals with
clarity, focus, dedication and belief.
"Leadership
is practiced not so much in words as in attitude and
in actions." ~ Harold Geneen
4.
Leadership
Entrepreneurs are "take charge" kind of people.
They are "self-starters" who don't need to
be prodded along by others. They are self-motivated
and have a talent for motivating others. They can communicate
their vision so that others can see the goal clearly.
They generate excitement and convey a sense of the inevitability
of accomplishment. They fearlessly trail-blaze through
uncharted territory with an enthusiastic horde behind
them.
"There
are risks and costs to a program of action. But they
are far less than the long-range risks and costs of
comfortable inaction." ~ John F. Kennedy
5.
Risk Takers
Entrepreneurs take calculated risks. They are not foolhardy
— they have a firm grip on reality and upon what's
possible, and won't chase after impractical or "pie-in-the-sky"
scenarios. But they are willing to bet on themselves,
on good ideas and on others.
"Action
springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility."
~ Dietrich Bonhoffer
6.
Responsible
Entrepreneurs are people who understand that they are
responsible for success or failure. They do not cast
blame on others, nor do they accept excuses. They understand
fully that "the buck stops here" when it comes
to success or failure, and that they are the biggest
asset they have.
"Creativity
represents a miraculous coming together of the uninhibited
energy of the child with its apparent opposite and enemy,
the sense of order imposed on the disciplined adult
intelligence." ~ Norman
Podhoretz
7.
Disciplined
Entrepreneurs are disciplined. They do what is required
to move forward. They chart a course of action, and
stick with it. They make their own schedules, set their
own priorities, and follow through on every detail.
"The
ability to understand a question from all sides meant
one was totally unfit for action. Fanatical enthusiasm
was the mark of the real man."
~ Thucydides
8.
Decision Makers
Entrepreneurs are good decision makers. They have the
ability to be objective and impartial judges. Because
they are action-oriented, they have the ability to make
decisions easily and run with them without fear. They
recognize that not making a decision is also a decision,
and prefer to chart their own course.
"Creativity
can solve almost any problem. The creative act, the
defeat of habit by originality, overcomes everything."
~ George Lois
9.
Problem-Solvers
Entrepreneurs are resourceful and creative in overcoming
the inevitable obstacles that come their way. Their
single-minded determination prompts them to believe
there is always a way — around, over or through
it — and they find it. Creative, out-of-the-box
thinking is natural and fun. For them, success is the
only acceptable result.
"Don't
be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life
is an experiment. The more experiments you make the
better." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
10.
Self-Confident
Entrepreneurs have a deep sense of self and of their
own abilities. They believe that they can do anything
and that anything is possible. They are self-reliant
and believe in their own decisions and capabilities.
They are emotionally stable and not easily discouraged.
They are secure within themselves so that they can easily
deal with an unstable and constantly moving environment.
They believe in their ideas so much that they can easily
talk to all kinds of people about them confidently and
"sell" their ideas to others. They don't think
of failures as an end-result; only as learning aides
to finding what works.
"The
speed of the boss is the speed of the team."
~ Lee Iacocca
11.
Team Maker
Successful Entrepreneurs know they can't do everything
by themselves. They look to others for help, expertise,
advice and counsel. They have a talent for inspiring
and motivating others, getting others on their team,
and leading the way. They make the best use of all their
resources.
"Creativity
is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing
which ones to keep." ~ Scott
Adams
12.
Flexibility
Entrepreneurs know when to change course and do so easily.
They learn from their mistakes and take alternative
approaches. They adjust to realities along the way with
creativity and dexterity. They don't blame others or
accept excuses. They simply adjust their sails to deal
with the unexpected.
"You
can have anything you want if you want it desperately
enough. You must want it with an inner exuberance that
erupts through the skin and joins the energy that created
the world." ~ Sheila Graham
13.
Enthusiasm / Passion / Motivation
Entrepreneurs have caught the fire of passion for a
dream. They are enthusiastic, high-energy, self-motivated
and able to motivate others. They communicate this high
energy, passion and enthusiasm to others, lighting the
flames of inspiration around them.
"In
the modern world of business, it is useless to be a
creative original thinker unless you can also sell what
you create. Management cannot be expected to recognize
a good idea unless it is presented to them by a good
salesman." ~ David M. Ogilvy
14.
Intelligence
Entrepreneurs have "know-how." They learn
from every experience they've ever had, and use it to
their advantage. They have the knowledge and "business
savvy" to keep their ventures on track. They are
often clever, creatively thinking on their feet to deal
with every obstacle. They think of problems as challenges
and opportunities, and enjoy the thrill of uncertainty.
They know how to communicate persuasively and authentically,
and are the best salesmen of their ideas.
"It
is not so much our friend's help that helps us as the
confidence of their help." ~ Epicurus
15.
Support System
Entrepreneurs have a well-developed support system.
This support system begins at home. They make sure they
have the full support of their spouse and immediate
family. Because their time will be taken up by the new
endeavor, their spouses and immediate families must
be willing to modify their lifestyles and obligations
to accommodate the entrepreneur. They agree to cooperate
with rules that allow the entrepreneur the space and
time they need to devote to their venture. They are
willing to adjust their lives to less income, less time
and attention from the entrepreneur, and make fewer
demands on him/her. Without this support system firmly
in place, the resulting tension and discord will sabotage
all the best-laid plans of the entrepreneur.
"The
greatest achievement of the human spirit is to live
up to one's opportunities and make the most of one's
resources." ~ Vauvenargues
16.
Resourceful
Entrepreneurs must have resources. While some businesses
require less startup costs than others, all resources
are limited, so they must have sufficient capital to
fund their ventures and to live on. Entrepreneurs must
have outside resources available to them: bank relationships,
lines of credit, or wealthy friends and relatives willing
to invest in them. Entrepreneurs must have people resources
— they know what talents and skills they will need
in their venture, and know who they will call when needed.
They know who to go for advice and answers. Most importantly,
they have a depth and breadth of resources inside of
themselves that never runs dry.
"There
are people who make things happen,
those who watch what happens,
and those who wonder what happened."
~ Unknown
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